Alright, so this isn't a huge issue, it's just something that I noticed recently, and it kind of bothers me.
So on Sunday, my boyfriend moved 5 hours away. So that's got me pretty upset. But that itself is not the issue.
Last year, I went through some shit. Basically, for months on end I wasn't happy, not even content, sometimes I'd be upset over nothing. So for the curtsy of others, I'd pretend like nothing was wrong, typical I know.
So that went on for quite a while. My problem now is, I don't know how to show that I'm upset. If I'm really troubled by something, and I happen to cry or whatever, it doesn't look like I'm very upset. And that doesn't happen to often as it is. But now like, I'm really upset that my boyfriend is gone, and I don't know how I should deal with this. I got used to handling my emotions on my own, but I don't really want to anymore. I don't want to feel alone when things get bad, but I don't know just exactly how I'm supposed to open up to other people.
I have a hard time explaining things to myself and making sense of it too, when I get upset while I'm alone, it's basically like a panic attack.
It really sucks, and I'd like to fix this. I like to optimistic about things, so I want to be happy even though things aren't going my way.
But I want to be able to laugh, and smile with people, and have it be real. I don't want to be fake anymore. My boyfriend helped me stop that, by making me feel comfortable. And I believe if I can be comfortable with him, there's got to be others. (Aside from my bestfriend.)

So, my question is; how does one deal with unpleasant feelings?
How do you over come them without bottling it up?
How do you let people in and open up?

Ah, I can relate with you about a lot of that.

When I was a senior in high school, my girlfriend/best friend at that time decided to split with me without warning and took almost all of our shared friends with her, leaving me with no one while I was trying to deal with a death in the family. My entire senior year was spent pretending to be fine when I was hoping silently someone would see through my mask and help me, sit down and talk with me, or something. I ended up graduating still pretty much alone and lonely.

The entire summer was me spending my time moping around, clutching to the promises that club members of the club I ran would call me despite them being a coupe of years younger, but in the end, none of that worked. Instead, I got up the courage and made a role-playing community online that soon generated a lot of buzz with people my age and all around the world.

Now, I'm not telling you to go out and do something silly like I did, but what you can start doing is to spoil yourself before you focus on trying to branch out. It's hard opening up to new people, and I still find it a struggle even with the new friends I have. When you're feeling bad, get away from what's making you distressed and focus on something neutral. Play a game that doesn't take much brain power (there are plenty of games online for free which are just that, mindless and enjoyable). Read a book or even better, write a book. You don't have to be the best author, but you'd be surprised what you can do with a little imagination. Even just writing out what you're feeling can help you. (I've written a few series and I keep a journal at hand for my random thoughts).

And who knows, maybe as you're taking the time to spoil yourself and focus in on your emotions, you may learn that the people you've been around may not be the kind of people you want to be around with. Maybe you'll find that you have interests in other things?

Another idea is to try to go out and do something totally crazy (not illegal or anything). Maybe take a few classes at a community college and meet new people? There are so many people out there who will try to be friends with the quiet girl/guy to help them get out of their shell. And even if you don't meet any new people or make any friends, you can at least have the feeling of self accomplishment for learning something new.

Good luck and I hope my rambling didn't come off... as... rambling. :rawrmayor:

Unpleasant feelings? Well for me I usually distract myself and find something to take my mind off of things.
The bottling up thing though is also VERY difficult for me. Though due to my own issues, I see a psyche and therapist quite often. So that helps me keep the edge off. Though, I still have a hard time opening up...even to my own friends and family. I guess I'm lucky in some ways as they understand it's very difficult for me and show great patience. Perhaps talking about your issues with a close friend or someone else may help your situation.
And a reply to your panic attacks: I also get them very often. That may require (if it gets worse) talking to someone about them. Sometimes an simple anxiety med can make all the difference there. Mine come unexpectedly and sometimes for no reason. I guess it's some type of panic disorder? Anyway, trying breathing deeply into a paper bag. Think of something calming and slow your breathing - not too much - but little by little.
And for the love issues, I shall recite Shakespeare - "The course of love never did run smoothly."

I can't really open up to people really good at all. I never really have been able to. Now more then ever i need to and im starting to but its scary and hard. I most of the time don't and it's getting me into allot of trouble. Im almost at rock bottom and can't really express the feelings inside. I tried today and was doing good but then someone shoved it back in my face. I freaked and punched the wall because I dont' know how to express myself enough to just talk through it. So i made a stupid mistake instead. Its really scary to trust someone else because your putting what you say in their hands and they can do anything with it. Rather that be shove it in your face or help you. I tried to reach out and get help but no one understood.

I can relate. I have issues opening up to people, especially about my feelings when I am upset. When I am alone, it's hard to make sense of everything. I know how frustrating that can be. I am currently trying to deal with it too. I really wish I had something constructive to tell you. All I know is that I am surviving, but I don't know how. I guess the only reason I've made it is because I have one friend I can vent to. He isn't even anywhere near me. I live in Georgia (south) and he lives in Vermont (North). It gets hard for me. My feelings/emotions get me so down sometimes and when I am feeling a lot at once it's hard to tell which feeling is which. It's confusing. When I feel myself start to panic, I just have to be alone and cry it out. It hurts so much, but I have to do it. I even get a physical ache in my chest from holding it all in, but I cry it out. It's like I don't wanna say anything to anyone about it, but I want someone to notice. They never do, so Idk why I hope someone will. I want to be able to smile for real with people too. I am working on that part, but can't seem so get it quite right. I do write poetry. That helps a little. Just know you aren't the only one going through it. I do wish you the best and hope you find something that helps :)

@Aledrina: The way you described your senior year in highschool, like the feelings you had, and how you did want someone to notice is exactly how I feel. And the trying to socialize with people, despite them being younger, and how none of that worked, it's similar to me. Only, they're not younger, they're just friends of my one of my friends, and they just, don't seem (and I don't mean to sound snobby but) bright enough. Like, maturity wise they're kind of... Yeah.
Anyway, I have been reading and it does help, but I find it's only a temporary fix. But that's better than nothing. I used to write in my journal, but that lost it's charm for me. Because I usually only find the will to write when something is wrong. And I really don't like reading back on things, and having it seem like my life is miserable when it's not. And in a journal the only reminder that it wasn't all bad(for me), is the gaps between the dates.
But I think I will definitely try writing a story of some sort, that might help. Especially in I can incorporate my own feelings as someone elses. :D
Thank you for your response, it was very helpful. x3
Also, it didn't sound like rambling at all. :3

@Cosmosnickers: lol I usually try to distract myself, and as long as I'm with other people, I'm pretty good at it. It's when I'm alone that all my thoughts take over. But even still, I'd like to not have to distract myself. I'd like to be able to have fun while acknowledging that something is still wrong.

@Petey Penguin: Opening up issues usually go hand-in-hand with having trusted the wrong people in the past. I've always kind of kept to myself, but my shell's gotten so much thicker over the past year.

@JennaDoll: Yes, yes! :D
Your situation, is A LOT like mine.
I also have one good friend I can vent to. Although, she does live near me.
Also, that feeling of not knowing which feeling is which, I've gone through that before. I've overcome it, but at the time it put me through hell. I don't know if this has, or will happen to you, but that feeling made me start to feel numb. Like I was feeling so much at once, it was almost like I was feeling nothing at all, sort of apathetic you could say. All I did with that though, was waited it out. Eventually it stopped. But I feel for you, that, to me, was worse than just feeling pain itself.
And the crying it out when you're alone, the aching in your chest, all of that. I get that also. I think that has to do with the panic attacks.
And again, the wanting someone to notice, is how I feel. You don't want to have to say it, you want them to ask you about it. That though it does have it's disadvantages, is kind of a plus for me in some cases. A lot of people claim to be my, "best friend", when they're nearly strangers to me. Proof that they're not close with me at all is that they can't identify a fake smile from a real one. Which, my best friend CAN in fact do.
Thank you so much for your response, it helps to know they're are others going through what I am. ;3;

Yeah, I'm pretty much almost throught the numb-phase, but not quite, if that makes any sense...I kept waiting for someone to notice, but noone really did. I mean, people near me could tell that I was a bit "down and out" or whatever, but I started to have suicidal thoughts here recently (Friday), but didn't do anything. They were only thoughts. But I finally had to bring myself to tell my mom that I need help. I need to see someone about what I'm going through. Idk if it'll help or to what degree, but I have to try something. And it was SOOO hard for me to even bring up that I needed help...so hard. I hate talking about how I feel or what I am going through, especially with family members...just odd for me. But anyway, if you ever need to talk, feel free to message me :)

@JennaDoll: Yeah, that'd probably be best. Hopefully they do something about it. Whenever I bring things up to my Mom she ignores it and acts like it isn't really happening. Probably because she's already gone through a lot with my siblings, so she doesn't want to believe that something went wrong with all her kids.
But at the very least, you could just find someone who let's you vent to them. And suicidal acts are normal, and what's improtant is that you don't act on it. So good girl for not doing so. (;
Anyway, thank you. : D
If you need to talk ever, you can contact me as well. :3 I'm always on here, or I could message you my Msn if you want.

My mom used to refuse to let me see anyone about it when I was younger (I've had this off and on for a long time, just the worst this time), but I think she finally saw how quickly things can go downhill after my younger sister started cutting and had to see someone about it. It helped her, so she's more open to the idea of me seeing someone now. But it took Years..
Well, thanks. :)

Well my Mom's gone through this before with a sibling of mine.
But I don't think it helped much.
lol
No problem! : D
By the way, you're pretty. (:

Well, Idk if seeing someone will help me either, but I'll see I guess.
Aw, thanks! :)
You're pretty too!